Hydrotherapy unit



Sept. 20, 1966 c. JACUZZI 3,273,560

HYDROTHERAPY UNIT Filed Aug. 5

, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fl G. 3

, INVENTOR. 2 (44 0/00 JACUZZ/ ATTORNEYS Sept. 20, 1966 c. JACUZZIHYDROTHERAPY UNIT 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed Aug. 5, 1963 5 INVENTOR.

(AND/00 JflCZ/ZZ/ FIG.

ATTORNEYS United States Patent 3,273,560 HYDROTHERAPY UNIT CandidoJacuzzi, Lafayette, Califi, assignor to Jacuzzi Bros., Inc., Richmond,Calif., a corporation of California Filed Aug. 5, 1963, Ser. No. 299,69812 Claims. (Cl. 12866) This invention relates to hydrotherapy apparatusand more particularly to apparatus similar to that shown in Jacuzzi etal., No. 2,738,787 and application of Candido Jacuzzi, Serial No.265,426, filed Mar. 15, 1963, and now Patent No. 3,159,849, co-pendingherewith.

The present invention relates to improvements in such hydrotherapyapparatus whereby a portable hydrotherapy unit is provided in which thehousing is divided into two rigid portions connected together by aflexible hose whereby one of the rigid portions may be mounted on thefloor outside of a bathtub While the other rigid portion is positionedinside of the bathtub with two rigid portions connected together by theflexible hose extending over the side wall of the tub. This apparatusmay be handled very easily as a portable hydrotherapy unit since theheaviest components of the unit may be mounted outside of the bathtuband need not be lifted into the bathtub; additionally, the unit isadapted for use in a wide variety of bathtubs where the rigid portion ofthe housing which is mounted in the bathtub occupies very little spacein the bathtub.

While the apparatus of the above mentioned patent was very safe from thestandpoint of preventing electrical shock to the patient using theapparatus, the construction of the present portable hydrotherapy unitprovides even additional safety by removing the electrical components ofthe apparatus to a position remote from the bathtub and there-by furtherreducing the possibility of failure of the apparatus through hydraulicshort circuits.

In connection with the provision of these improvements in portablehydrotherapy apparatus, the apparatus is provided with improved meansfor priming the pump in the unit and improved safety means forpreventing operation of the unit when it is not properly primed.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent fromthe following description read in conjunction with the attached drawingsin which:

FIG. 1 is a view in side elevation of improved portable hydrotherapyapparatus constructed in accordance with the principles of thisinvention with the apparatus shown mounted in a bathtub;

FIG. 2 is a vertical sectional view on an enlarged scale taken along theplane indicated at 2-2 in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view taken along the plane indicated at33 in FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a horizontal sectional view, on an enlarged scale, taken alongthe plane indicated at 4-4 in FIG. 1, and

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view through the apparatus of FIG. 4.

Referring now in detail to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, theportable hydrotherapy apparatus illustrated therein includes an outerpump housing portion mounted on the floor outside of the bathtub 12 andconnected by a flexible conduit 14 to an inner nozzle housing portion16. The nozzle housing 16 has a rigid body 18 to the back of which ismounted a rubber suction cup 20 by means of a plate 22 and screws 24(FIG. 2) whereby the nozzle housing 16 is mounted on the end wall 26 ofthe bathtub.

As indicated in FIGS. 2 and 3, a perforated screen 28 is mounted aroundthe periphery of the nozzle housing body 18 by means of screws 30 withthe screen providing an inlet opening into the body 18 for flow of fluidfrom the bathtub into a vacuum inlet chamber 32 in the body 18. The body18 has interior cast walls 34 which provide a pressure chamber 36 in thebody 18 communicating with a discharge nozzle assembly 38 as indicatedhereafter. The vacuum and pressure chambers 32 and 36 respectivelyterminate in concentric vacuum and pressure fittings 40 and 42 at thetop of the body 18.

As indicated in FIGS. 1-3, the flexible portion 14 of the housing ismade of concentric outer and inner hoses 4-4 and 46 which are connectedto the fittings 40 and 42 respectively, the inner hose 46 being made ofconventional pressure hose stock adapted to convey liquid underpressure, and the outer hose 44 being made of conventional vacuum hosestock the periphery of which is provided with helical corrugations whichprevent the hose from collapsing when subjected to interior vacuum.

The nozzle assembly 38 mentioned above includes a generally sphericalportion 48 supported on a frustospherical seat on the wall elements 34by means of a cap 50 which is mounted on the body 18 by bolts 52 (FIG.1), the cap 50 also having an interior frusto-spherical seat as seen inFIG. 2 so that the spherical portion 48 of the nozzle assembly may bepivoted in the body 18 in both horizontal and vertical planesperpendicular to the wall 26 of the bathtub. A slot 54 is provided inthe spherical portion 48 of the nozzle assembly and receives a pin 56which is mounted in the body 18 limiting pivotal movement of the nozzleassembly 38 in a vertical plane.

As indicated .in FIG. 2, a central fluid passageway is provided by thespherical member 48 communicating with the pres-sure chamber 36, and aboss 58 is mounted in this fluid passageway by web elements (not shown)with the boss 58 providing a valve seat 60. An elongated nozzle member62 is threadedly mounted in the member 48 for movement toward and awayfrom the seat 60. The nozzle member 62 has a venturi throat whichcommunicates through ports 64 with an air chamber 66 in the member 48surrounding the nozzle 62.. The air chamber 66 communicates through alateral opening 68 in the member 48 with a vertical air supply tube 70(FIG. 3) which carries at its upper end an adjustable air supply cap'72.

As indicated by the flow arrows in FIGS. 2 and 3, water enters the body18 through the screen 28 and hence flows through the vacuum chamber 32to the interior of the vacuum hose 44. Water is sucked through thevacuum hose 44 to the pump housing 10 and is returned under pressurethrough pressure hose 46 as explained hereinafter. The water deliveredunder pressure from hose 46 enters pressure chamber 36 and passesthrough the adjustable opening between valve seat 60 and nozzle 62 andhence through the venturi opening in the nozzle 62 where it draws airinto the nozzle through the apertures 64.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, the pump housing 10 includes a baseportion 74 having interior walls 76 which define an intake chamber 78and a discharge chamber 80 which are connected by fittings 81 and 83respectively to the vacuum and pressure hoses 44 and 46. A rotaryimpeller 82 is mounted on a central shaft 84 which is driven by anelectric motor in the upper portion of the housing through a bearing 86and water seal 88. When the impeller 82 is driven in rotation, it impelsWater from its eye through its peripheral discharge 90, hence throughdiffuser vanes 92 to a peripheral pressure chamber 94. In the pressurechamber 94 water flows upwardly to an upper passageway 96 through whichthe water flows into the discharge chamber 80.

A cup 98 is mounted above the impeller 82 in fluid communicationtherewith through its lower opening 100, and the cup 98 carries a pairof upper ports 102 by which water passing through the upper portion 96of the pressure chamber 94 may flow into the cup 98, and through whichair may flow out of the cup 98 into the upper portion 96 of the pressurechamber 94. The cup 98 defines an interior float chamber in which thefloat 104 of a float switch 106 is mounted. The float 104 is mounted ona rotatable shaft 108 which extends through a water seal in a wall 112of the pump housing assembly to a dry compartment in which electricalswitch 106 is mounted. The walls 112 form part of an upper cap casting114 on which the electric motor is mounted by bolts 116. The cap 114 ismounted on the lower casting 74 by means of bolts (not shown). The floatswitch 106 is a switch which is normally open when water is not presentin the cup 98 but which closes when the float 104 rises in the cup 98rotating the shaft 108 responsive to introduction of water into the cup98. The switch 106 is connected to the electric motor to preventoperation of the electric motor until the switch 106 closes, and amanual start switch 118 (FIG. 1) is connected in series with the motorand switch 106.

During operation of the pump impeller 82, water flows from the vacuumhose 44 to the intake chamber 78 through the impeller 82 and hencethrough the pressure chamber 94, upwardly to the upper portion 96thereof and hence through the discharge chamber 80 to the pressure hose46; during movement of water through this flow path, very little waterpasses through the interior of the cup 98, but when operation of theimpeller is stopped and water permitted to drain from the cup 98, thefloat switch 106 opens to prevent operation of the impeller until thepump is re-primed. Priming of the pump is accomplished by introducingwater into the vacuum hose 44 at the nozzle assembly end thereof. Waterso introduced into the vacuum hose flows through the intake chamber 78and upwardly around the impeller 82 and through the pressure chamber 94while air is displaced from the interior of the cup 98 through theapertures 102 and the upper portion 96 of the pressure chamber 94; whenthe water in the cup 98 rises to a sufiicient extent that the floatswitch 106 is closed, the impeller may then again operate.

Introduction of water into the vacuum hose 44 to prime the pump may beaccomplished by injecting water into the vacuum hose or by theapplication of suction to the pressure hose. Thus, the air pipe 70 maybe closed by rotating the cap 72 thereon, and a hand vacuum pump fittedinto the conical mouth of the nozzle 62 to extract air from the pressurehose 46 while drawing water into the vacuum hose 44. On the other hand,and as illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, a lateral conduit 120 is providedin the nozzle housing end of the hose 44 with the conduit 120 extendingthrough the fitting 40 and having a lip 122 on its outer edge over whichan auxiliary hose may be attached for connecting the vacuum hose 44 tothe water faucet in a bathtub. When water is introduced into the conduit120 in sufliciently high volume from the faucet, the water will flowthrough the vacuum line 44 to prime the pump, and priming in this mannermay be facilitated by partially covering the screen 28 with any suitableobject.

While one particular embodiment of the invention has been illustratedand described in detail herein, it is obvious that many modificationsthereof may 'be made without departing from the spirit and scope of theinvention.

Accordingly, what is claimed is:

1. In a portable hydrotherapy apparatus adapted to be used in a bathtubor the like comprising:

(A) a water inlet adapted to be removably positioned in a bathtub belowthe water level therein;

(B) a nozzle adapted to be removably positioned in a bathtub below thewater level therein,

(C) a water pump having a pump inlet and a pump outlet,

(D) an electric motor, and

(E) connecting means for effecting movement of water from said waterinlet to said nozzle responsive to operation of said electric motor withsaid connecting means comprising (1) communicating means connecting saidwater inlet to said pump inlet and connecting said pump outlet to saidnozzle, and (2) drive means connecting said electric motor to said pumpfor driving said pump to pump water from said pump inlet to said pumpoutlet, the improvement comprising:

(A) a first unitary housing adapted to be removably positioned in abathtub below the water level therein, said first housing having mountedtherein for support there'by said water inlet and said nozzle (B) asecond housing adapted to be removably positioned outside of a bathtubadjacent thereto, said second housing having mounted therein for supportthereby said electric motor, and

(C) a flexible conduit connecting said housing, said conduit beingadapted to extend over the edge of a bathtub from said first housing tosaid second housing with at least a portion of said connecting meansmounted in said conduit.

2. The improved hydrotherapy apparatus of claim 1 in which said flexibleconduit comprises a pair of concentric tubular members each forming,respectively, at least part of the communicating means connecting saidwater inlet to said pump inlet and said pump outlet to said nozzle, saidmembers each being formed of an electrical insulating material.

3. A portable hydrotherapy apparatus for use in bathtubs and the likewhich comprises:

(A) a pump housing adapted to be removably positioned outside of abathtub adjacent thereto with said housing containing (1) an electricmotor and (2) a water pump connected to said electric motor to be driventhereby and having a ump inlet and a pump outlet,

(B) a unitary nozzle housing adapted to be removably positioned in abathtub below the water level therein and having mounted therein forsupport thereby a water inlet and a discharge nozzle, and

(C) conduit means connecting said pump housing and said nozzle housingand adapted to extend therebetween over the edge of a bath tub, withsaid conduit means having (1) a first water conducting passagewayconnecting said pump inlet to said water inlet, and

(2) a second water conducting passageway connecting said pump outlet tosaid nozzle.

4. A portable hydrotherapy apparatus for use in bathtubs and the likewhich comprises:

(A) a pump housing adapted to be removably positioned outside of abathtub adjacent thereto with said housing containing (1) an electricmotor, and

(2) a rotary pump impeller connected to said electric motor to be drivenin rotation thereby with said impeller having a water inlet eye and aperipheral water discharge,

(B) a unitary nozzle housing adapted to be removably mounted in abathtub below the water level therein, said nozzle housing havingmounted therein for support thereby (1) a water inlet cavity, and

(2) a water discharge nozzle for delivering a water stream in a bathtubin which said nozzle housing is mounted, and

(C) a pair of flexible conduits connecting said housings and adapted toextend therebetween over the e-dg of a bathtub with said conduits having(1) a first conduit connecting said inlet cavity to said eye, and

(2) a second conduit connecting said peripheral discharge to saidnozzle.

5. The hydrotherapy apparatus of claim 4 in which a float switch ismounted in said pump housing above the level of and in housing confinedfluid communication with said impeller inlet eye, and said switch iselectrically connected to said electric motor to prevent operation ofsaid electric motor when water is not present at said impeller eye.

6. The hydrotherapy apparatus of claim 5 characterized further by theinclusion of priming means for introducing water into said pump housingbelow said float switch with said priming means including injectionmeans for introducing water from a source thereof under pressuredirectly into said first conduit adjacent to said nozzle housing.

7. The hydrotherapy apparatus of claim 4 in which said nozzle is mountedon said nozzle housing for discharging a jet of water in a predetermineddirection from said nozzle housing and a suction cup is mounted on saidnozzle housing for supporting said nozzle housing on a wall of a bathtubwith said suction cup facing away from said nozzle housing in adirection generally opposite to said predetermined direction.

8. The hydrotherapy apparatus of claim 4 characterized further in thatsaid nozzle housing comprises a body having a back wall adapted to bemounted on an end wall of a bathtub with said body defining a pressurepassageway connected to said second conduit, and said nozzle is mountedon said body for rocking movement in both vertical and horizontal planesperpendicular to said back wall with said nozzle communicating with saidpressure passageway.

9. A portable hydrotherapy apparatus for use in bathtubs and the likewhich comprises (A) a pump housing adapted to be removably positionedoutside of a bathtub adjacent thereto with said housing containing 1) anelectric motor (2) a rotary pump impeller mounted below said motor andconnected to said motor to be driven in rotation thereby, said impellerhaving a water inlet eye and a peripheral water discharge, and

(3) a float operate-d switch having a float actuator mounted below saidmotor and above and in housing confined fluid communication with saidimpeller eye, said switching being electricaL ly connected to said motorto prevent operation of said motor when water is not present at saidimpeller eye to lift said actuator,

(B) a unitary nozzle housing adapted to be removably mounted in abathtub below the water level therein with said nozzle housing havingmounted therein for support thereby (1 a water inlet cavity, and

(2) a water discharge nozzle for delivering a water stream in a bathtubin which said nozzle housing is mounted,

(C) a pair of conduits connecting said housings and adapted to extendtherebetween over the edge of a bathtub with said conduits including (1)a first conduit for conducting water from said inlet cavity to the eyeof said impeller, and

(2) a second conduit for conducting water from said peripheral dischargeto said nozzle, and

(D) priming means for introducing water into said pump housing belowsaid float switch with said priming means including injection means forintroducing water from a source thereof under pressure directly intosaid first conduit adjacent to said nozzle housing.

'10. Hydrotherapy apparatus comprising a bathtub, a pump housing mountedoutside of said bathtub and having water inlet and outlet openingstherein communicating with the interior of said bathtub for conveyingwater from said bathtub to said housing and back to said bathtub fromsaid housing, an impeller rotatably mounted in said housing 'forimpelling water from said inlet opening to said outlet opening, anelectric motor connected to said impeller for driving said impeller inrotation, and a float switch having a float mounted in said housing inhousing confined fluid communication with said impeller and at a levelin said housing above said impeller with said float switch electricallyconnected to said motor for preventing operation of said motor when theWater level in said housing is below said impeller.

11. The hydrotherapy apparatus of claim 10 characterized further by theinclusion of a manually operatable start switch for starting said motorwith said motor, said start switch, and said float switch electricallyconnected in series.

12. A nozzle assembly for hydrotherapy apparatus adapted to be removablymounted in a bathtub which comprises a body having a back wall with anoutwardly facing suction cup mounted thereon, said cup being adapted tobe secured in engagement with a wall portion of said bathtub to mountsaid body therein, said body having vacuum and pressure passagewaystherein, terminal fittings for connecting said passageways to the vacuumand pressure sides respectively of a pump, and a Water inlet openingextending from said vacuum passageway through the walls of said body;and a nozzle mounted on said body on the side of said body opposite tosaid back wall of said body and facing substantially opposite to saidsuction cup with said. nozzle having a fluid discharge passagewayextending therethrough in communication with said pressure passageway insaid body and with said nozzle mounted for limited rocking movement onsaid body in both horizontal and vertical planes perpendicular to saidback wall of said body.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,272,639 7/ 1918Dunn 10326 1,755,000 4/1930 Haentjens 103l26 2,091,167 8/1937 Solley128-370 2,280,979 4/1942 Rocke 128-46 5 2,799,866 7/1957 Jawett 128662,930,867 3/!1960 Nash 10326 FOREIGN PATENTS 105,590 4/ 1917 GreatBritain. 280,670 7/1952 Switzerland.

RICHARD A. GAUDET, Primary Examiner. L. W. TRAPP, Assistant Examiner,

3. A PORTABLE HYDROTHERAPY APPARATUS FOR USE IN BATHTUBS AND THE LIKEWHICH COMPRISES: (A) A PUMP HOUSING ADAPTED TO BE REMOVABLY POSITIONEDOUTSIDE OF A BATHTUB ADJACENT THERETO WITH SAID HOUSING CONTAINING (1)AN ELECTRIC MOTOR AND (2) A WATER PUMP CONNECTED TO SAID ELECTRIC MOTORTO BE DRIVEN THEREBY AND HAVING A PUMP INLET AND A PUMP OUTLET, (B) AUNITARY NOZZLE HOUSING ADAPTED TO BE REMOVABLY POSITIONED IN A BATHTUBBELOW THE WATER LEVEL THEREIN AND HAVING MOUNTED THEREIN FOR SUPPORTTHEREBY A WATER INLET AND A DISCHARGE NOZZLE, AND (C) CONDUIT MEANSCONNECTING SAID PUMP HOUSING AND SAID NOZZLE HOUSING AND ADAPTED TOEXTEND THEREBETWEEN OVER THE EDGE OF A BATH TUB, WITH SAID CONDUIT MEANSHAVING (1) A FIRST WATER CONDUCTING PASSAGEWAY CONNECTING SAID PUMPINLET TO SAID WATER INLET, AND (2) A SECOND WATER CONDUCTING PASSAGEWAYCONNECTING SAID PUMP OUTLET TO SAID NOZZLE.